Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong (2016) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Ruby leaves because she feels betrayed and deceived. Throughout their evening, there was an obvious romantic connection, and Josh deliberately omitted the fact that he had a girlfriend waiting inside the bar while he flirted with Ruby. His revelation feels like a betrayal of the trust that had developed during their spontaneous night together, making Ruby realize she was unknowingly participating in infidelity.

Foreshadowing: Earlier in the night, Ruby chose to spend time with Josh over her planned meeting with friends, showing how invested she had become in their connection.

• Ruby
• Josh
• betrayal
• bar scene
• girlfriend

Josh reveals his relationship status because he feels guilty about misleading Ruby. Rather than continuing the evening under false pretenses, he chooses honesty despite knowing it would likely end their connection. This moment shows his internal conflict between his attraction to Ruby and his existing commitment.

Foreshadowing: His willingness to be honest suggests he's already questioning his current relationship.

• Josh
• girlfriend
• honesty
• confession

Ruby recognizes something special in Josh during their conversation and senses he's been suppressing his true passion for writing in favor of a stable finance career. Her encouragement comes from a genuine belief in his potential and a desire to help him live a more authentic life, reflecting her own aspirations as a toy designer who followed her creative instincts.

Foreshadowing: This encouragement plants the seed that leads Josh to leave finance a year later.

• Ruby
• Josh
• writing
• passion
• career change

Ruby's encouragement during their first meeting is the catalyst for Josh's career change. Her words about pursuing what he truly loves, rather than what society expects, resonate with him deeply enough to abandon his finance career and pursue writing. When they meet again a year later, he's already made this significant life transition.

Foreshadowing: Ruby explicitly tells Josh he should stop wasting his potential in finance and start writing.

• Josh
• finance
• writing
• career change
• transformation

The Star Ferry meeting isn't coincidence in the traditional sense, Josh spots Ruby and deliberately approaches her. He's been thinking about her for a year and wants to thank her for changing his life. This intentional reconnection shows how meaningful their original encounter was to him.

Foreshadowing: Their first meeting clearly made a lasting impression on both characters.

• Star Ferry
• reunion
• second meeting
• Hong Kong

Ruby experiences jealousy because seeing Josh's friend reminds her of the complicated reality: Josh is still committed to someone else. Their intimate moment at the lounge becomes tainted by the knowledge that Josh's friend could report back to his girlfriend, exposing the emotional infidelity happening right in front of them.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Ruby herself was upset when she learned Josh had a girlfriend, so this moment reopens that wound.

• Ruby
• Josh
• jealousy
• friend
• relationship

The slow dance symbolizes the deep emotional connection and magnetic attraction that persists between them despite their committed relationships. It represents a moment where they allow themselves to fully feel what they've been suppressing, their genuine bond and longing for each other, before reality intervenes again.

Foreshadowing: Their immediate connection during the first meeting foreshadows this undeniable chemistry.

• Ruby
• Josh
• dance
• emotion
• connection
• longing

They share a cab because neither is ready to let go of the moment. Despite knowing they should part ways and return to their respective partners, they're drawn to each other and want more time together. The cab ride becomes a transitional space where they can delay making any definitive decisions about their futures.

Foreshadowing: This reluctance to separate reflects the unresolved tension that's been building since their reunion.

• Ruby
• Josh
• cab
• attraction
• indecision

The ending remains intentionally ambiguous, the film never reveals whether they choose to pursue their feelings or return to their current partners. They sit outside Ruby's apartment, caught between desire and obligation, facing the difficult question of what comes next. Viewers are left to interpret their final choice.

Foreshadowing: The repeated theme of complicated commitments foreshadows that no easy resolution will occur.

• ending
• resolution
• together
• ambiguous
• future

Ruby received a promotion that allowed her to advance professionally, which is why she's back in Hong Kong a year later. Her career success reflects her own journey of growth and self-actualization, paralleling Josh's decision to pursue writing. This shows that both characters used their transformative encounter as motivation for positive life changes.

Foreshadowing: Ruby mentions working hard to earn this promotion during their first meeting.

• Ruby
• promotion
• career
• success
• Hong Kong

When Ruby and Josh reconnect, Ruby reveals she's in a long-distance relationship. Like Josh, she's committed to someone else but still finds herself drawn to the connection they share. This parallel situation adds to the film's exploration of whether true compatibility should supersede existing commitments.

Foreshadowing: Ruby initially came to Hong Kong alone, hinting at some distance in her relationship.

• Ruby
• long-distance
• relationship
• commitment